Editor,
The United Nations General Assembly in 1994 observed August 9 as World Indigenous Peoples Day. This happened at the first meeting of the UN working group on indigenous population for promotion and protection of their human rights. It is strange that while almost all countries have been mentioned in the UN map of indigenous peoples, India does not find a place there because it is not a signatory to Resolution 49/214 of December 23, 1994, although we have the highest population of indigenous peoples. India is a country with diverse cultures and with a highly stratified society replete with prejudices. The fear of minority superiority, loss of control over minority by majority is the biggest hurdle in signing of the 1994 UN Resolution which will be of a binding nature to the member states that are signatories to it. Indigenous people from countries that have signed this Resolution come under the ambit of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Since India is a rights-based democracy, to further expand the rights of indigenous peoples so that they will not be left behind, requires a new tripartite social contract between UNHRC, indigenous people and the Government of India.
Many agencies and organisations are celebrating this day across the country to bring awareness to the present generation about their customs, culture, traditions, technology, environment and an organic value system they practiced centuries ago. This year the theme of World Indigenous Day is, “Leaving no one behind: indigenous peoples and the call for new social contract.” This theme directs that humanity which has witnessed a pandemic where in the name of social distancing, economic distancing has left many behind, should take a fresh look at rights. There are many ways to empower the powerless and to give voice to the voiceless so that all can live life with dignity.
Five years after the declaration of World Indigenous Peoples Day by UN, India announced a New Telecom Policy (NTP)-1999 for support to Telecom Service Providers according to the mandate of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for Information and Communication Technologies – ICTs. Article 1(d) of the ITU seeks to promote the extension of the benefits of the new telecom technologies to all the world’s inhabitants. Accordingly, the Indian Telegraph Act was amended in 2003 and gives statutory status to Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)whose main objective is to enable rural Indians to achieve their fullest potential and participate productively in the development of the nation by being effectively connected through a reliable and ubiquitous telecommunications network; access to which is within their reach.
In the six north eastern states, excluding Assam and Sikkim approximately five thousands villages which have been primarily inhabited by indigenous peoples have yet to have access to telecom connectivity. Once they are enabled with ICT their culture can penetrate across the globe and this unique and incredible culture will win over millions of hearts.
ICT is the only tool which opens up new opportunities to indigenous peoples’, including financial stability and sustainable livelihoods in order for them to realise their fullest potential so that the gap between actual and potential will be minimised. Technology with values and culture calls for a new social contract in order to become a super soft power. This will only be possible when no one is left behind. For that the USOF, is connecting the unconnected indigenous people of India.
Yours etc.,
Dilip Singh, ITS officer
Via email
Appoint qualified tribal as Pro-VC, Tura Campus
Editor,
Apropos of the news item ‘GH groups seek revamping of NEHU,’ which appeared in your daily on August 3, 2021, I am of the view that NEHU Tura Campus which has completed 25 years of its existence on February 23, needs special attention from the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla. It is encouraging to note that within five days of his taking charge as VC, Prof Shukla visited Tura Campus on July 31 and interacted with teaching and non-teaching fraternity, including the local NGOs to get first hand information about the status of the NEHU, Tura campus. It is apparent that over the last six years the overall performance of NEHU has slumped. NEHU Tura campus has been in the public domain for the wrong reasons.
What NEHU Tura Campus was in its initial stages is not what it is today. The problems and challenges faced by the Tura Campus are multiple in nature. To name a few, there has been no regularization of non-teaching staff who have been working for over 25 years. Despite having eleven departments with one of them being self- financing no recruitment has happened both for teaching and non-teaching posts after 2012. Apart from that there was a lot of discrimination in the selection process where even a local Garo who is a gold medalist was denied appointment to the post of Assistant Professor under UR category in the Horticulture Department Often the programmes organized by the University staff are in disarray and chief guests comprising dignitaries such as elected representatives or senior government officials were not formally addressed. There was a breach of protocol in the National Science Day celebration 2016 programme where the vote of thanks which is always proposed in ascending order was not observed. There were occasions when the Pro-VC arrived to the programme very late and spoke after the Chief Guest. One senior citizen of Tura Town humorously told me, “If I attend a NEHU programme I have to take a sleeping pill at night.” What he meant to say was that school or college programmes of Tura are far better organised than that of NEHU.
Till date the NEHU Tura Campus has no potable drinking water, no stationary shops, no banks ,no post office and lacks other basic amenities. Considering all these factors I urge the present VC to appoint a well qualified tribal Professor from any of the North Eastern States, with enough administrative experience and one who is presentable in all aspects as Pro-VC. Only such a person can take the NEHU Tura Campus to greater heights. Such a person is one we can look up to and will in turn provide academic and intellectual leadership.
Yours etc.,
SA Sangma
Tura